Help me lower my convertible (without damaging my internal organs)

[CorvallisBMW]

This weekend's e30 picnic has made it very obvious the my convertible does not sit low enough for my tastes. It's currently running H&R sports (vert specific), Billy sports, Vorschlag camber plates, IE 25/22mm sways, M3 CABs, and 215/45 R17 tires. Here are the pics:





I'd like to get it 1" lower in both the front and back. This is a DD/cruiser, so I don't want some crazy 800lb super race springs. I'm happy with the ride quality/comfort right now, and I don't think I want to go much stiffer. I'd also like to avoid coilovers, as they are significantly more expensive than just swapping out springs and I don't need anything that fancy for this car. So I'm pretty much looking for coil spring options that will dump the car more without bruising my kidneys. It would also be nice if I could keep the Billys, but not necessary.

So, H&R race? IE satge 3? H&R cup kit? Voltgland (sp)? Can coils be safely cut out if done professionally? I've found lots of pictures of coupes running these but very few of convertibles, and I'd like to see how the extra weight effects/changes the ride height and stance.

Any opinions? Ideas? Experiences? Pictures or examples? Thanks R3v!

[smonkbmw]

my car had h&r race on it, i dunno if you recall how it rode, drove. to me it is the best spring out there to go lower. id put them on my wifes car.....if it wasn't my wife driving it all the time :)

ie3s will make it appear to sit kinda funny (ask curt about em). the cup kit has a aggressive drop but the rates are very soft. ive heard of alot of bottoming out issues with them. i think the vogtlands have the same rates as the eibach pro kit (which mayhem is running so check his car out on that).

for close to the same price as h&r race you're almost to ground control pricing, i dunno if these are 'vert specific or not. also with ground control you can specify different rates for a more cush ride?! ask for the same rate as the h&r sports you have now?!

[KenC]

I'd consider the cup kit since it's a cruiser. Plus you have the beastly IE sway kit to dial out any excessive body roll.
I'm sure you can get a decent price out of reselling the Bilstein Sports too since they have like 400 miles on them.

[CorvallisBMW]

Any idea if I can run the Billy sport swith the cup kit? I've already got a buyer for the sport springs. I'm also going to switch to 3mm upper spring pads/no lower pads.

[KenC]

Like James was telling you at the picnic, I'm thinking you're probably going to run into bottoming out issues with the Billys.

[CorvallisBMW]

Called Turner to do some research, and turns out the Cup Kit comes with new shortened struts, because the front springs are actually just H&R sports. The rears are shorter springs however, and the whole kit comes with new shocks. They also have 2 different kits, the Touring and Sport. Sport uses the exact same spring rate as H&R sport springs, to my Bilsteins would be transferable. But there's no point, because you can only but the kit as a whole. It would get me nearly 1" lower all around though.

IE stage 3 and H&R race are nearly the exact same spring rate and drop (IEs drop more in the rear). Both are a little stiff for a DD convertible, but they are also far less expensive.

Not sure about Eibach, haven't looked in to them too much yet. but I'm guessing the drop wouldn't be much more than what I have right now, so that's no good.

What about shortening the stock struts? That could get me an inch in front, and I could get at least 1/2" in back by taking out the uber thick upper spring pad and spraying some of that rubberized undercoating stuff on there to stop the harshness.

[StereoInstaller1]

I have a good idea about how to lower the rear ride height...

[CorvallisBMW]

stack some bitches in the back seat :pimp:


After doing some research, the cup kit on a vert would probably be too low. 92 Mtechnic Cabrio was running that and he busted 4 or 5 oil pans. I talked with H&R and they say the springs are not designed for the extra weight of the vert, so it ends up dropping nearly 3" :shock:

I guess I'll call GC tomorrow and see if they can rig up a setup that would let me keep my new Vorshlag plates and Billy sports

[ja burna]

I suggest you go with koni short bodied shocks and kw 60/40mm springs.. that will give you the drop your looking for. I can send you pics if you want..

[CorvallisBMW]

I suggest you go with koni short bodied shocks and kw 60/40mm springs.. that will give you the drop your looking for. I can send you pics if you want..

KWs website doesn't list any products for the e30, where do you buy?

[ja burna]

I bought from tunershop.com.. The still carry KW items, just have in inquire specifically about them. The springs were 168USD w/o shipping..

[CorvallisBMW]

Anyone ever run the H&R sport springs for the coupe/sedan on their vert? I know they are slightly shorter but have the same rate, which means they would lower the car but still match my Bilsteins. Pics would be great.

Also, anyone have any experience with the Tunershop springs? they look to be just about the right drop height I'm looking for, but there isn't much information:

http://www.tunershop.com/Suspensions/Springs/TS-Springs_x200_230x_p12747.html

[browntown]

Nothing an acetylene torch couldn't fix. ;-) Realistically I think IE springs are some of the most aggressive stock style springs

[Van Westervelt]

Just pick up a set of the race, or go to a coilover weld on kit from GC (H&R Race are barely lower than the sports, 1" max). Then you can keep your billies and plates. If you go the GC route, you can then mildly alter your height, and rates over time. I just bout two different free springs for my rear and it was 140 for the 900 lbrs.

I have owned IE springs, and will never own them again.